US1518105A - Filing and indexing equipment - Google Patents

Description

J. T. QUIGLEY FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT Filed May 31, 1918 2 Sheets-Shet 1 -.-J. T. QUIGLEY FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT Filed May 31 1918 2 sheetswsheet Imwenifar Jahm T Q Z yfl wigley 4 73 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES mans PATENT caries.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO COSTMETER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT.

Application tiled May 81,1918. Serial No. 237,392.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. QUrcLEn-a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Filing and Indexing Equipments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to indexes and files, and is more especially concerned with an equipment of the'so-called loose-leaf, visible index type in which the successive leaves or sheets overlie one another in such manner that their margins present their index-hearing edges substantially in one plane, so that the number, name or subject-matter index may be scanned quickly without handling each leaf. I

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment there of, while the scope will be more. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fi 1 is a front elevation of an indexing and filing equipment embodying my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevatidn of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a much onlarged scale on line 33 of Fig. 1 illustrating a sheet'-holder and the sheet-holder looking means in their normal positions;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3,

' but showing the sheet-holder locking means brought forward preparatory to withdrawunlocked and one end of the sheet-holder ing same from its place; V

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a much en-' larged scale on line 5--5 of Fig.- 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-45 of Fig. 1, showing some ofthe leaves in an upstanding position and others in a depending position, and illustrating the rocking action of the sheet-holders;

Fig. 7 is a. cross-sectional view of one of the sheet-holders e ui ped with a two-leaf sheet having a fol e margin'to lock the same in place in the sheet-holder;

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view, showing a single-leaf sheet whose margin is folded several times upon itself to form. a plurality of thicknesses within the sheet-holder;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 7 and 8, butoshowing' a single-leaf sheet locked in the sheet-holder by having its margin folded once upon itself; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of my invention which I have selected for illustration, I havethere shown an indexing and 'filin-g equi ment compris- 16 and 17 on a plate 18 which constitutes a mounting for the equipment.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the flanges 16 and 17 normally overlie the ends of the sheet-carriers or holders 13. As a means for normally lockin the latter against endwise movement, I gave herein provided a lockin bar 19 which may consist of a flat metallic strip, shown in cross-section in Fig. 3 and having its terminal portions reduced as best shown in Fi 1 to form shafts 20 mounted in suitable earings 21, the latter, in the present example, being in the form of blocks inserted in the upper and lower ends of the channel 15 and secured in place by rivets 22, best shown in Fig. 1, extending through the flange 17 and plate 18.

Vhen the locking bar 19 is in its normal position illustrated in Fig.- 3, the sheet-car riers and holders 13 are permitted to move endwise toa slight extent necessary to give them proper clearance, but are locked against removal from the guides 16 and 17, since the amount of normal end play isinsufiicient to ermit the escape of the sheetcarriers or ivoted locking bar 19 is swung from its ocking position, shown in Fi 3, to the unlocked position, shown in, present example through an arc of approximately ninety degrees) the bar is presented flatwise instead of edgewise to the ends of the sheet-carriers or holders, and hence any one or more of the latter may be moved lengthwise to a greater extent into the channel 15, thus freeing them from the'channel olders. When, however, the 1 1g. 4, (in the' 14, whereupon their ends may be swung in .an outward direction as illustrated in Fig.

rename Whose axes they may be turned, thus carrying their attached leaves. Their cylindrical 4. Thus, it is evident that the .sheet-carform, moreover, maintains them and their riers or holders are normally positively leaves uniformly spaced and held. in proper locked in place with relation to the guides, and are thus 'prevented from being accidentally removed while still permitting them to be unlocked and withdrawn instantly when desired.

Preferably suitable means are provided normally to retain the locking bar 19 in its carrier-locking position and to restore said bar to such position after having been displaced therefrom. Such means may take various forms, but I prefer to provide one or more suitable springs 23 appropriately connected to the locking bar 19 as by providingthe latter with arms 24, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. 5, to which one end of the spring is attached, the other end being secured to a suitable fixed point which in the present example is in the form of a rivet 25. Herein the upper and lower margins of'the plate 18 are bent to form in wardly turned flanges 26, best shown in Fig. 1, whichform upper and lower stops limiting the upward and downward movecourse,

.nent of the sheetcarriers or holders 13 with their attached jsheets. If desired, these flanges may form convenient chambers 27, into which the springs 23 may extend, and the rivets 25 to which the springs'are attached may extend through the flanges 26 and the back plate 18.

From an inspection of Fig. 5 compared with Fig. 3, it will be evident that each of the springs 23 exerts a pull on its arm 24: in the proper direction normally to maintain the locklng bar 19 in the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby to prevent undue lengthwise -displacement of the sheet-carriers or holders 13. When, however, the locking bar is turned from the osition shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 in 0 position to the tension of the spring, the sheet carrier or holder is unlocked and can be removed -as already described. As a convenient means for operating the locking bar to unlock the sheet carriers or holders, l have herein provided said bar with a thumb or finger piece 28, which in the present example is suitably secured to the bar, as by rivets 29, and projects therefrom through a suitable opening 30 in the guide 12, as best shown in Fi s. 1 and 2. This opening is, of

maths great enough in extent, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, to permit the thumb or finger iece 28 to be swung through an angular distance suficient to carry the looking bar 19 from its looking to its locked position.

The sheet-carriers or holders 13, as already stated, are preferably in the form of cylindrical tubes. ince they are cylindrical, their ends constitute trunnions about position lengthwise of their guides 11 and 12. Since this is'so, the sheets and their carriers 0 holders may be turned freely about the axes of'the latter, thus rendering both faces of the sheets readil accessible for the purpose of inspection an making of records, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6,. wherein some of the sheets are shown in upstanding position and others depending.

The sheets may take various formsand may be otherwise appropriately secured to their respective carriers or holders. In the present example, the latter are provided with narrow, longitudinal, sheet-receiving slots 31 leading into longitudinal sheet-receiving chambers 32.. In the form illustrated in Fig. 6, T have provided sheets 33, each of which is folded upon itself to form a double-leaf sheet, whose fold extends through the slot 31 into the chamber 32, and in the fold is a locking rod 34, preferably somewhat larger in cross-section than the width of the slot 31. By first introducing the locking rod into the fold of the sheet, and then sliding the latter lengthwise into the slot, even the thinnest sheet can be locked into its carrier or holder in a positive and perfectly secure manner, so that it cannot be removed therefrom except by first removing the carrier or holder from its place in the guides. When, however, the sheet-carrier or holder is removed from its guides, the sheet may be separated therefrom by relatively moving the sheet and sheet-carrier or holder in opposite directions lengthwise of the latter, with a sliding motion. The rod 34 may then be removed from the fold, if desired. It is also evident that the sheet might be removed from the sheetcarriers or holders by first withdrawing the rod 34 lengthwise from the fold and "then pulling the latter in an outward direction from the slot. K

In Fig. 7, ll have shown a sheet 35 similar to the sheet 33, and having a folded marginal portion 36 interlocked with the sheet carrier or holder 13, but in this case. the rod is omitted and the locking of the'sheet is accomplished by making a second fold so disposed that the width of the folded marginal portion is at least as great as the internal diameter of the chamber 32'. Preferably the width of the slot 31 is only slightly greater than the combined thickness of both leaves of the sheet 33, so that the latter is effectually locked in place in the carrier or holder. In Fig. 8, l have shown a single sheet 37, having a marginal portion 38 which is folded upon itself several times to give the same in- '-crea sed stability and durability in the case llll of thin paper. In Fig. 9, I have shown a single sheet 3.) of considerable thickness having a folded margin 40 similar to the margin 36 in Fig. 7, and a ting in like manner to retain the sheet in its carrier or holder.

Any or all of these forms of leaves with their locking devices may be employed in a single equipment, thus adapting the latter to light or heavy Weight cards or sheets, both kinds being used Witlrequal facility and being susceptible of arrangement and re-arrangemeat from time to time. and detachment and re-attachment to any of the sheet-carriers or holders.

Preferably the length of the plate 18 is such as to receive and hold a definite number of sheet carriers or holders with their attached sheets, the latter overlying one another, and the lower edge of the lowermost leaf preferably terminating adjacent the lower edge of the holder. To this end,

the carrier or holder of the lowermost sheet may be spaced from the lower edge of the plate in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the use of a suflicient number of empty sheet-carriers and holders filling the space, or by the use of a single spacing element 41, the latter being supported by the lower flange 26 of the plate 18. This spacing element, like the sheet carriers or holders, may be removed and replaced at will by, and is normally locked in place by the locking bar 19.

While I have herein shown and described one form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but

that extensive deviations from the illustrated.

form or embodiment of'the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus'described one embodiment of my invention. what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair of sheet holder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders supported at opposite ends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise' movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in said sheetholder supports against movement transversely of said supports, sheets held by said sheet-holders respectively, and means to lo k said sheets against detachment from said sheet-holders.

2. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination. a pair of sheet holder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders terminating at opposite ends in said supports wise movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in said sheet-holder supports against movement transversely of said supports, sheets -held by said sheet-holders, respectively, and having-opposite edges interposed between said supports, and means to lock said sheets in said sheet-holders.

4. A filing or indexing equipment. comprising, in combination, a air of sheetholder supports, a plurality 0 sheet-holders supported at opposite ends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in said sheet-holder supports 1 against movement transversely of said supports. sheets held by said sheet-holders, respectively, and slidable lengthwise of and into cooperative relationship with said sheet-holders, and means to lock said sheets against detachment from said sheet-holders.

5. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination. a pair of sheetholder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders supported at opposite ends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in said sheetholder supports against movement transverselv of said supports, sheets held by said sheetolders. respectively, means to lock said sheets against detachment from said sheetholders but allowing the sheets to be moved lengthwise out of engagement with thesheet-holders when the latter are disengaged from their supports;

6. A filing 0r indexing equipment comprising, in, combination, a pair of parallel guideways, a plurality of sheet-holders extending transversely and mounted to slide longitudinally of said guideways but ,de-

tachable therefrom upon endwise movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders'against removal from said guideways, by movement transversely of said guideways. sheets held by. said sheetholders, respectively, and means to locksaid sheets against detachment from said sheet holders.

7. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair of parallel till nally of said track but detachable therefromby endwise movement transversely of the track, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-carriers against detachment from said track by movement transversely of said track, a plurality of sheets carried by said sheet-carriers. and means to lock said sheets against detachment from said sheet-carriers.

9. A filing or indexing equipment 00111- prising, in combination, a track, a plurality of sheet-carriers mounted to move longitudinally of said track but detachable therefrom by endwise movement transversely of the track, locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-carriers against detachment from said track by movement transversely of said track, a plurality of sheets carried by said sheet carriers, means to lock said sheets against detachment from said sheet-carriers by movement oil said sheets longitudinally of said track, said means and said carriers being adapted to allow the Sheetshjto be detached from the carriers by transverse movement, but only when the carriers are detached from the track;

10. A filing equipment comprising, in combination, a series ofsheet-carriers and a support therefor presenting means overlying the ends. of said sheet-carriers, two abutments for the ends of said sheet-carriers normally to prevent their removal by endwise movement and having provision for movement of one abutment relatively to the other to permit detachment of said sheet-carriers by endwise movement, and means for causing said movable abutment normally to lock said sheet-carriers positively against removal by endwise movement.

11. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair of channeled guides, a plurality of sheet-carriers having their opposite ends terminatin in the chem nels of said guides, respectirey, and sheet carrier looking and unlocking means normallv locking said sheet-carriers against substantial movement tran s y of a1 guides adapted t be tn ch tn retains mit said sheet-carriers to be moved endwi'se and detached from said guides.

12. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a support provided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other and forming opposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality of sheet-holders greater in length than the space between said flanges and having their opposite ends normally covered by said "flanges, and sheet holder locking and unlocking means normally locking said sheet holders against endwise movement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latter to be moved endwise, thereby to withdraw their ends from beneath one of said flanges.

1B. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, .in combination, sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder positive lockin means adapted to engage said sheet-hol ers endwise.

it. A filing equipment comprising, in

- combination, sheet-holder supporting means,

sheet-holders supported thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders,-and sheet-holder positive locking means including a single locking element adapted to present an obstruction to removal of said sheet-holders by endwise movement and mounted to move laterally to remove such obstruction to permit removal of said sheet holders by lenghwise movement, and means normally to re= tain said element in a position in which it is immovable by endwise thrust of said sheet-holders thereagainst and thereby posi tively locks said sheet-holders against removal by endwise movement.

15. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combition, sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby sheets held by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder locking means including a pivoted locking-bar.

' 16. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder locking means including a pivoted locking-bar extending along said sheet-holders 17. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, sheet-holder supporting means, sheet'holders supported there" by, sheets held by said sheetholders, and sheet-holder positive locking means including a locking element limiting movement of said sheet-holders longitudinall of the lat ter, and yielding means nor-ma ly retaining said element in its sheet-holder locking position.

18, A or eomhin indexing equipment coma on, sheet-holder sup-- Mill lllll) thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders,

and sheet-holder positive locking means norinally presenting a limitin stop to limit movement of said sheet-ho ders longitudicovered by said flanges, and sheet-holder positive locking and unlocking means normally positively locking said sheet-holders against end'wise movement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latter to be moved endwise, thereby to with- I draw their ends from beneath one of said flanges, said locking and unlocking means including a locking-bar extending lengthwise of and adjacent the other flange.

20. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a support provided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other and forming opposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality of sheet-holders greater in length than the space between said flanges and having their opposite ends normally covered by said flanges, and sheet-holder lockin and unlocking means normally looking said sheet-holders a ainst endwise movement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latter to be moved endwise, thereby to withdraw their ends from beneath one of said flan es, said locln'ng and unlocking means inclu ing a locking-bar extending lengthwise of and adjacent the other flange and pivoted to swing toward and from said sheet-holders.

21. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a support provided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other and forming. opposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality of sheet-holders greater in length than the space between said flan es and having: their opposite ends normfily covered by said flanges, and sheet-holder locking and unlocking means normally looking said sheet-holders against endwisem'ovement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latter to be moved endwise, thereby to withdraw their ends from be neath one of said flan es, said locking and unlockin means inclu ing a locking-bar extendin engthwise of and adjacent the other flange and pivoted to swing toward and from said sheet-holders, and yielding means .nrging said bar toward said slieet holders.

22. A filin device comprising, in combination, a ho ow sheet-holder, a sheet held thereby, and means positively locking said sheet to said sheet-holder, said means comprising a locking element within said sheetholder and mounted to move relatively to said sheet and sheet-holder, and a mounting having provision normally to prevent unlockin of said sheet from said sheet-holder.

23. filing device comprising, in combination, a hollow sheet-holder, a sheet held thereby, and means positively locking said sheet to said sheet-holder, said means comprising a locking element within said sheetholder and mounted to move longitudinally of the adjacent edge of said sheet and sheet holder, and a mounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

24. A filing device comprising, in combination, a sheet, and sheet-holding means comprising two parts relatively movable longitudinally ofthe adjacent margin of said sheet, and a mounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

25. A filing device comprising, in 'combi nation, a sheet, and sheet-holding means comprising two parts movable relatively to each other and to said sheet longitudinally. of the adjacent margin of the latter, and a mounting having-provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

26. A filing device comprising, in combination, a sheetand sheet-holding means comprising two parts relatively movable longitudinally of the adjacent margin of said sheet, one of said parts extending through said sheet, and amounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal move, ment.

27. A {filing device comprising, in combination, a sheet and sheet-holding meanscomprising two parts relatively movable lon itudinally of the adjacent margin of sai sheet, one of said parts extending through a fold of said sheet, and a mounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement. 7

28. A filing device comprising, in combination, a hollow sheet-holder, a sheet hav ing a fold extending into said sheet-holder, and sheet-locking means in the fold of said sheet, and a mountin having provision normally to limit such ongitudinal movement.

'29. A filing device comprising, in combination, a tubular sheet-holder providedv with a longitudinal slot, a sheet having a fold extendin through said slot into the interior of sai ing means in the fold of said sheet, and a mounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

I 30. A filing device com rising, in combination, a tubular sheetolder rovided with a lon 'tudinal slot, a sheet 'aving a fold extendlng through said slot into the insheet-holder, and sheet-lockterioi of said sheet-holder, and a sheet-locking rod in the Fold of said sheet, and a mounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

31. A filing equipment comprising, in combination, a track, a series of sheet-carriers received by said track, means preventing movement of said sheet-carriers longitudinally of said track, positive locking means normally positively locking said sheet-car- 10 riers against removal transversely of said track and having provision to unlock said sheet-carriers to permit their removal from said track by movement transversely of the latter. 115

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY.

Images